Dumping box with hinged bottom having drip catching means



F. H. STONER July 6, 1954 DUMPING BOX WITH HINGED BOTTOM HAVING DR IP CATCHING MEANS Filed July 12, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 6, 1954 s o 2,682,975

DUMPING BOX WITH HINGED BOTTOM HAVING DRIP CATCHING MEANS Filed July 12, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 774/1 fiz' ns'r:

Patented July 6, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT- OFFICE DUMIING BOX WITH HINGED BOTTOM HAVING DRIP CATCHING MEANS Frank H. Stoner, Monroe, Mich, assignor to Monroe Auto Equipment Company, Monroe, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application July 12, 1949, Serial No. 104,309

8 Claims. (Cl. 222-108) This invention relates to a dumping box struccation illustrates generally a dumping box structure of the type having a bottom closure pivotally connected with a box portion adjacent the rear wall thereof for swinging movement toward and away from the box and incorporating novel latch means for holding the bottom closure in its upwardly swung closed position, which means are releasable to permit the bottom closure to swing downwardly to an open dumping position. A supporting structure is illustrated in the application for supporting the box portion on a sup- .porting surface, whereby to permit the entrance of the fork of a lift truck between the supporting surface and the bottom closure so that the bottom closure can be swung into its upwardly swung closed position by means of a lift truck fork or platform. Means are also illustrated in this copending application to permit the box to be swung to its upwardly closed position byoverhead devices such as a crane or the like. A supporting stand is also illustrated for supporting the box and for providing a chute and tray into which material from the box may be dumped.

When a box of the type illustrated in the aforementioned copending application is filled with, for example, metalparts which have been dipped in or coated with fluid, such as oil, the oil flows off the parts and works its way toward the bottom closure. Even when the bottom is closed, the fluid tends to leak out of the box structure and drip on the floor, thus, of course, creating a messy condition, as well as a hazardous condition in an industrial plant.

The principal object of this invention is, therefore, to provide a dumping box structure of the aforementioned type, in which means are provided for making the dumping box structure fluid tight and preventing fluids from escaping from the box structure and dripping onto the floor. It should, however, be noted that the dumping box is not adapted to be completely filled with fluid, but is arranged to handle fluid which may drip off or escape from parts which are carried in the box.

If is a still further object of this invention to provide in a dumping box structure of the aforementioned type, a novel pan arrangement which is connected to the bottom closure for swinging movement therewith and which is constructed so that when the bottom closure is dropped, fluid will be directed from one end thereof and. will not spill indiscriminately over the floor or supporting surface.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide in a dumping box structure of the aforementioned type novel pan means which are so arranged as to encompass the bottom closure,'

but still permit the latch means for the bottom closure to be easily actuated.

It is a still furtherobject of this invention to provide in a dumping box of the aforementioned type, novel baffle means for insuring that all fluids in the box will be directed into the pan means and cannot escape around the edges of the bottom closure.

These and other objects of this invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the dumping box of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 1, taken along the line 33 thereof;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the'structure illustrated in Fig. 1;v

Fig. 5 is a reduced side elevational view of the pan of this invention;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 4, taken along the line 66 thereof; and

Fig. '7 is a. side elevational view of the structure illustrated in Fig. I, mounted on a supporting stand, with the bottom closure in its downwardly swung openposition.

Referring now to the drawing, it will be seen that a dumping box 9 is illustrated, which is generally similar to the dumping box described in detail in the aforementioned copending patent application, and is preferably formed with corrugated metal walls having an upper beaded edge II. The bottom closure of the box 9 is indicated at l3 and is preferably made of corrugated sheet metal reinforced by a plurality of longitudinally spaced, generally U-shaped cross members l5, which are welded or otherwise suitably secured to the bottom of the closure. The closure [3 is pivotally connected with the box portion 9, adjacent the rear wall thereof, by means of pivot pins ll, mounted in a supporting leg structure 3 IS. The supporting leg structure I!) supports the box ii in an elevated position above a supporting surface or a supporting stand, and comprises runner-like legs 2| preferably formed of structural members of generally U-shaped cross section. The upper ends of legs 2| are welded or otherwise suitably secured to the under side of the box 9 on each side of the bottom closure l3. Side plates 23 are secured to the box and supporting legs 2| below the bottom closure [3 and have an inclined lower edge, as can be seen in Fig. 1. The side plates 23 cooperate with the bottom closure l3, when the latter is in its downwardly swung open or dumping position, to form a laterally enclosed chute, down which elements or material, carried within the box 9, may slide.

In order to releasably retain thecbottom closure 13 in its upwardly swung closed position, latch means are provided whichinclude a pair of laterally spaced spring pressedplungers 25, which are slidably supported inand extend through apertures in the bottom closure front'cross member Hi. The spring pressed plungers 25 are interconnected by means of a connector plate 29, which ties the two plungers together for coordinated movement. The outer ends of each of the spring pressed plungers 25 are tapered and are adapted, when the bottom is in its closed position, to -project through apertures in latch plates 31, which are welded or otherwise suitably secured to the front wall of the box portion 9.

The. front cross member of the bottom closure is provided with a central aperture over which is welded or otherwise suitably secured a guard, or bracket 35. A pin 31 is connected at one end to the connector plate 2% and the opposite end thereof extends outwardly through the aperture 33 into the confines of the guard or bracket 35. By inserting a tool (Fig. 7) into the space between the guard and the front end of the pin 3-1, the pin can be moved rearwardly so as to move the spring pressed plungers 'rearwardly away from the latch plates 5i and permit the bottom "closure to drop down. When the bottom closure is raised to its uppermost position, the plungers -25 will cam over the lower ends of the latch plates '31 and will compress their springs until they come into alignment with the apertures in the latch plates, at which time the'springs will move the plunger-s 25 .into the latch plate apertures, so as to re leasably retain the bottom closure in its upwardly swung closed position.

In order to prevent fluid, suchas oil or the like, which may be on the elements or material carried in the box portion 9, from escaping past the bottom closure onto the supporting surface or floor, a pan 4! is provided, which includes a substantially fiat bottom portion 43, vertically extending side wall portions 45, a front wall portion 41 and a rear wall portion 49. In the illustrated embodiment the pan has a capacity of only about one-third of the box capacity, although this ratio may be varied without departin from the invention. The pan is, therefore,'designed primarily only to catch and retain fluid which drips from parts or elements in the box. The upper surface of the pan bottom wall 43 is placed against the under side of the bottom closure cross members 15 and the side wallpor tions 45 extend up along the opposite sides of the bottom closure l3, between the bottom closure and the runner-like legs 2|. The upper edges of the sidewalls 45 are disposed'above the top surface of the bottom closure l3. The rear wall 49 extends up along the rear edge of the bottom closure in substantially the same manner. The front wall 41 of the pan 4| is spaced outwardly or forwardly of the front edge of the bottom closure I3, and outwardly of the latching mechanism guard or bracket 35. A laterally extending inwardly projecting flange 53 is provided .along the upper edge of the front wall 41, and

the flange terminates at its'inner end adjacent to the front wall of the box portion 9. The flange 53, as can be seen in Fig. 6, is centrally recessed or notched out at 55, so as to permit the tool 39 to be insertedbetween the front wall of the .latching mechanism guard 35 and the pin 31 for releasing the latching mechanism and permitting -the bottom closure to drop down to its dumping position. At the same time, the recess or notch 55 provides an outlet opening through which fluid in the pan may be discharged, .as will hereinafter appear. The flange '53 is also recessed .at 56, adjacent each end thereof, to provide clearance for latch plates 3|. The pan 4| is connected to the bottom closure .|j3, for swinging movement therewith, by any suitable means such as welding, and by means of the pivot pins whichpivotally connectboth the bottom closure and the pan to the box portion 9 and supporting structure Hi.

In order to insure that any liquid .in the box portion 9 will be directed into the pan H, bafile plates 59 are provided in the box portion, which extend angularly along eachside wal1 of the box portion, from thefront to .rear thereof, so that the .upper edge of each engages the side wall of the box above the-box bottom and the lower edge thereof overlaps the side wall portions of the pan 4| andabuts the upper surface of the bottom closure l3, when the latter is :in its upwardly swung closedposition. Each baflie plate 59 is securedto the side and bottom wall portions of the box 9, outwardly of the bottomclosure l3,

' by means 'of -a plurality of braces 5|, which are secured to the baffle plates 59 and to side and bottom wall portions of the box in any suitable manner, such as by welding. Therefore; any liquid in the box portion 9 will bedirected onto the bottom closure of the pan 4| and will not escape or leak from the boxxportion except into the pan 4|.

The supporting structure i9 supports the box far enough above a supportingsurface to permit the fork of a lift truck or the like to be inserted between the supportingv surface and the under side of the pan and bottom "closure, so that the lift truck fork can swing the bottom closurerand pan to their upwardly swung closed positionand at the same time lift the entire dumping box structure for transport to any suitable place, such as a supporting stand -65, illustrated in Fig. 7. The supporting stand includes legs 5! and a top frame 69. A portion of the top frame 69 projects forwardly of the leg structure '61 to provide in effect a forwardly projecting ledge or shelf-like frame structure'l including side walls 13, a front end wall 15, and a bottom wall 16.

When the dumping box is mounted on the supporting stand the runner-like legs -2|- are supported on the-top frame '69 so that the bottom closure-l3 and pan 4| are disposed'iin a plane above that of the forwardly projecting frame structure 1|. When the bottom closure I3is released, it will pivot downwardly to its dumping position and the side plates '2-3 of the box will cooperate 'witlrthe'side plates 3 of the supporting stand to provide a laterally enclosed chute which is open at the front end thereof, so that material or elements within the dumpin box will slide along the inclined. drop bottom I3 ancl'into the top frame structure H between the side walls 13 and front wall 15. The material sliding down the bottom closure can spill over the horizontal flange 53 on the front of the pan 4| and any liquid in the pan will be discharged into the shelf frame structure through the recess or notch 55. In this way both the material in the box, as well as any liquid in the pan can be easily removed therefrom.

It will thus be appreciated that the pan 4! will catch and retain any fluid which may be on the parts or in the box portion 9, when the bottom closure is in itsupwardly swung closed position and such liquid will not spill out of the box onto the floor or supporting surface so as to create a messy, as well as hazardous, condition in industrial plants. At the same time, it will be appreciated that the pan does not interfere with the operation of the bottom closure in permitting material to be dumped therefrom, as described above. It will furthermore be appreciated that the pan does not interfere with the lifting of the dumping box structure by the fork of a lift truck or by means of a crane-like structure, if the box is adapted for actuation by such a device, as illustrated and described in the aforementioned copending application. The pan 4| is also of a relatively simple construction and of a construction which permits easy connection thereof to the bottom closure. The structure of this invention thus provides a dumping box which will retain liquids therein and which will operate in as satisfactory and eflicient a manner as dumping boxes which have been devised heretofore, which would not hold or contain liquids.

What is claimed is:

1. A self-contained dumping box structure including a box portion, a bottom closure for said box portion pivotally connected to said box for swinging movement toward and away therefrom, supporting structure connected to said box for supporting the same above a supporting surface, means for releasably retaining said bottom closure in its upwardly swung closed position, pan means connected to and movable with said .bottom closure and including interconnected vertical walls extending completely around and above the upper surface of saidbottom closure, so as to prevent fluids in said box from escaping therefrom onto a supporting surface.

2. A self-contained dumping box structure including a box portion, a bottom closure for said box portion pivotally connected to said box for swinging movement toward and away therefrom, supporting structure connected to said box for supporting the same above a supporting surface, means for releasably retaining said'bottom closure in its upwardly swung closed position, pan means connected to and movable with said bottom closure and including vertical walls extending above the upper surface of 'said bottom closure, so as to prevent fluids in said box from escaping therefrom onto a supportingsurface, and baffle means in said box for directing any fluid therein into said pan means.

3. A self-contained dumping box structure including a box portion, a bottom closure for said box portion pivotally connected thereto for swinging movement toward and away therefrom, means for releasably retaining said bottom closure in its upwardly swung closed position, pan means connected to and movable with said bottom closure and including substantially vertical side walls laterally enclosing said bottom closure and projecting above the top surface of said bottom closure.

4. A self-contained dumping box structure including a box portion, a bottom closure for said box portion pivotally connected thereto for swinging movement toward and away therefrom, pan means connected to and movable with said bottom closure and including vertical side walls laterally confining said bottom closure and projecting above the upper surface 'of said bottom closure, said pan means extending forwardly beyond the front end of said bottom closure and being provided with an upstanding front wall, substantially horizontal flange means extending rearwardly from said front wall toward said bottom closure, so as to provide a cover-like portion for said forwardly projecting part of-said pan means, whereby when said bottom closure is swung downwardly from said box portion, fluid in said pan means may escape therefrom over said top flange.

5. A self-contained dumping box structure including a box portion, a bottom closure for said box portion pivotally connected thereto for swinging movement toward and away .therefrom, supporting structure including a pair of runner-like legs connected to said box portion for supporting the same above a supporting surface, said runner-like legs being disposed on opposite sides of said bottom closure so that said bottom closure is movable therebetween, means for releasably retaining said bottom closure in its upwardly swung closed position, pan means connected to and movable with said bottom closure and including vertical walls extending upwardly from the bottom of said pan means between said runner legs and said bottom closure, with the upper edges thereof disposed above the top of said bottom closure so as to prevent fluids in said box from escaping therefrom onto the supporting surface when the box is in its upwardly swung closed position.

6. A self-contained dumping box structure including a box portion, a bottom closure for said box portion pivotally connected thereto for swinging movement toward and away therefrom, supporting structure including a pair of runner-like legs connected to said box portion for supporting the same above a supporting surface, said runner-like legs being disposed on opposite sides of said bottom closure so that said bottom closure is movable therebetween, means for releasably retaining said bottom closure in its upwardly swung closed position, pan means connected to and movable with said bottom closure and including vertical walls extending upwardly. from the bottom of said pan means between said runner legs and said bottom closure, with the upper edges thereof disposed above the top of said bottomclosure so as to prevent fluids in said box from escaping therefrom onto the supporting surface when the box is in its upwardly swung closed position, and plate means extending from front to rear in said box portion between said box portion side Walls and the upper portion of said pan means so as to insure that all fluid in said box portion will flow into said pan means, and means securing said plate means to said box portion.

'7. A dumping box structure including a box portion, a bottom closure for said box portion, pan means confining said bottom closure, with the bottom of said pan means disposed adjacent to the bottom of said closure means and with the top' edge of the vertical walls of said ,pan meansdisposed above the top surface of said bottom closure, means pivotall-y connecting bothsaid pan means and said bottom closure to .said box .portion for swinging movement toward and away therefrom.

'8. A dumping box structure including a box portion, a bottom closure for said box portion, pan means confining said bottom closure, with the bottom of said pan means disposed adjacent to thebottom of said closure meansand with the top edge of the vertical walls ofsaid pan means disposed above the top surface .of said bottom closure, means pivotally connecting. both saidpan means and said bottom closure to said. box portion for swinging movement toward and away therefrom, and angularly extendingbaffie means connected to the interior of said box portion and overlapping opposed vertical walls of said pan means. so as to direct any fluid in said box portion into said pan means and prevent the latter from escaping from said dumping box structure.

References Cited in the file of this patent 

